Sam Rivers, founding bassist of American rap-rock band Limp Bizkit, has died at the age of 48. The band confirmed the news on 18 October, describing him as "a once-in-a-lifetime kind of human". The cause of death has not yet been disclosed.

Rivers, a founding member since the band's inception in Jacksonville, Florida, played on all of Limp Bizkit's major releases, including 'Significant Other' and 'Chocolate Starfish' and the 'Hot Dog Flavored Water'. His signature basslines helped define the group's explosive sound during their rise to global fame.

He passed away just weeks after wrapping up the band's 2025 tour.

In a heartfelt statement titled 'In Loving Memory of Our Brother, Sam Rivers', the band wrote: "Sam Rivers wasn't just our bass player — he was pure magic. The pulse beneath every song, the calm in the chaos, the soul in the sound… From the first note we ever played together, Sam brought a light and a rhythm that could never be replaced".

Limp Bizkit added, "We love you, Sam. We'll carry you with us, always. Rest easy, brother. Your music never ends".